Rx Bandits

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Rx Bandits
Performing at The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent in 2007
Performing at The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-Trent in 2007
Background information
Also known as The Pharmaceutical Bandits
Origin Seal Beach, California, United States
Genre(s) Ska-punk, Progressive Rock
Years active 1997 - Present
Label(s) Drive Thru, Mash Down Babylon
Associated acts Love You Moon, Technology, Machines, Apotheke, The Sound of Animals Fighting, Satori, The Bruce Lee Band, Peba Luna
Website Official Site
Members
Matthew Embree
Steve Choi
Chris Sheets
Joseph Troy
Christopher Tsagakis
Former members
Steve Borth
Johnny Tsagakis
James Salomone
Rich Zahniser
Franz J. Worth
Noah Gaffney
Rich Balling

Rx Bandits is a five-piece band based in Seal Beach, California. Their musical style is an eclectic mix of ska, punk, rock, reggae, and progressive rock fusion.

Contents

[edit] History

The band formed in 1996 in Orange County, California. Originally known as The Pharmaceutical Bandits and predominantly a third wave ska band, their 1997 independent release of Those Damn Bandits, earned the band a reputation. While the band was signed to pop/punk label Drive-Thru Records the band shortened their name to Rx Bandits and released three albums, "Halfway Between Here And There", "Progress", and "The Resignation." Their fifth album, "...And The Battle Begun", was issued on Mash Down Babylon Records, band leader Matt Embree's own label.

They have toured with such bands as former label mates New Found Glory, Something Corporate and Finch, as well as with The Bloodhound Gang, Reel Big Fish, The Format, Polysics, DESA, Catch 22, Big D and the Kids Table, The Starting Line, Days Away, Men, Women & Children, I Am The Avalanche, Nurses, The Exit, Slow Gherkin, Gym Class Heroes, The English Beat and Keziah Jones and Fayuca

They have also appeared on the Vans Warped Tour, Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Hofstra University's 2007 Music Fest and The Bamboozle.


[edit] Those Damn Bandits

[citation needed]

In 1997, the band released Those Damn Bandits, their first full-length album. Those Damn Bandits was a re-recording of an earlier demo, but excluded "Sleepy Tyme" and "High Skool" and included four new songs and a secret track. It was originally released through Antedote Records but Drive Thru Records signed the band shortly after and purchased the rights to Those Damn Bandits, releasing it under their own label.

[edit] Halfway Between Here and There

[citation needed]

The band explored new styles with Halfway Between Here and There, but continued to hold on to their ska roots while exploring a larger element of distorted punk rock. The album worked to branch out past the third wave ska sound.

The album's success allowed them to tour with well-known acts such as The Bloodhound Gang, New Found Glory and Reel Big Fish.

Halfway sold out rather quickly after its initial 1998 release. In 1999, the album was re-released with a new track list, 2 remastered songs and new artwork. The '99 release was also released under their newer and simpler name: Rx Bandits.

In the time between Halfway Between Here and There and their next release, Progress, bassist Franz Worth and saxophonist Noah Gaffney quit the band. Worth was replaced by James Salomone, formerly of My Superhero. Gaffney's position was left open.

[edit] Progress

[citation needed]

With 2001's Progress, the band moved further beyond third wave ska. Progress involved elements of punk, reggae, and hardcore punk, but is most memorable for containing the what is arguably the first flashes of the progressive nature which would later come to define the band. The album contained the song "Analog Boy," which was made into one of their two music videos. The band at this point consisted of Embree, Tsagakis, Balling, Salomone, and the album included a number of guest performers, including former member Noah Gaffney.

Shortly after the release of the album, Chris Sheets joined the band on trombone as well as Steve Choi (formerly of The Chinkees) on guitar and keyboards. Choi had played keyboards on the demos for Progress, but when it came time to record, they decided instead to have Rich Zahniser of The Hippos, who was touring with the band, play on the album. Former Jeffries Fan Club trombonist Chris Colonnier also played with the band at times, in the same role as Zahniser. While they had just gained the two new members James Salomone and Rich Balling left the band. They had many temporary replacements for Salomone, most notably Johnny Tsagakis, Chris' younger brother, but eventually Joe Troy, a longtime friend of Embree, who helped to write the song "What If?" on Halfway Between Here and There, joined the band as their bass player. Balling was replaced by saxophonist Steve Borth, who had played formerly in the popular East Bay ska-punk band Link 80. Their line-up of Embree, Tsagakis, Sheets, Choi, Troy and Borth would go on to create the next two albums, The Resignation and ...And the Battle Begun.

[edit] The Resignation

[citation needed]

2003 saw the release of The Resignation, a CD/DVD combination. The production of the album was unique to the band; guitars, bass, drums, and some keyboards were all recorded live in studio and vocals, horns, percussion and additional keyboard parts were then overdubbed. The band allowed themselves a limited number of takes for each part, and once a take was recorded it was left as it was, with no punch-ins. Embree also shared songwriting duties with Steve Choi, whereas he had previously been responsible for all of the band's material.

Musically, the album continued the genre mixing of Progress and experimented with unconventional time signatures. It featured overtly political lyrics, and saw the band evolving even further from their ska-punk days as the Pharmaceutical Bandits; a subject that drummer Chris Tsagakis commented on in an interview with Skratch Magazine during the period:

“ A closed-minded person will definitely see a band with horns and think ska or ska-punk. I don't really stress on it, because I know what we are doing transcends genres. We make music, and we are a band that has horns. I would never classify this band under any label. We make music, and we have horns and keys and everything else. [1] ”

The album cover is an original composition called "Predictable" by Aaron Nagel, a Bay Area artist and member of both Link 80 and DESA.

After the success of The Resignation, the band found time for side projects (see below).

[edit] Rx Bandits Live: Vol. 1

[citation needed]

In 2004 the band released a DVD of live performances that were filmed during their many live shows. It was one of the first released on Embree's Mash Down Babylon Record label (aka MDB Records). It contains two Easter Eggs: a performance of the song Up to No Good, the only song recorded during the sessions for The Resignation that was not included on the album as well as studio footage of the band working on the album. During the DVD's slide show, the background music is performed by Apotheke, a side project run by several members of the band.

[edit] ...And the Battle Begun

[citation needed]

...And the Battle Begun was initially released online on June 24, 2006 and was made available for purchase during the band's 2006 US Tour. The album's title is, notably, in reference to a number of Lord Byron's poetry, in which the phrase appears repeatedly.

The album was originally slated to be released in 2005 through Drive-Thru Records (with one album left on their contract), but for unspecified reasons, the band and label chose to part ways, causing lengthy delays in the release date. Finally free of any legal setbacks, the CD was made available via online order from MDB Records and on specified tour dates. Officially it debuted in retail stores in October 2006, after which the band performed a Northeastern CD release tour to promote the album.

Musically, the album moves farther away from a reggae/ska sound and more into progressive rock. The band again incorporated more complex time signatures and what has become their standard array of instruments. Notably, Embree used a Fender Stratocaster guitar, where he had previously used a Gibson Les Paul; the tone differences between the two instruments adds another layer of complexity to the band's sound. Their songs touch on the use of prescription drugs, empowerment of women, and anti-violence. The song "A Mouth Full of Hollow Threats" even contains a lyrical interpolation of Bob Dylan's "Masters of War" and a likely reference to Jimi Hendrix's famous quote about peace, "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world shall know peace."

As with The Resignation, the album art was done by Aaron Nagel, who painted his work in-studio while the band was recording their album.

On June 28, 2006, the band announced via their MySpace page that saxophone player and backup vocalist Steve Borth had left the Rx Bandits to pursue his own band, Satori. This announcement came in the midst of their 2006 US Summer Tour to the surprise of many fans. Borth played his final show with the Rx Bandits on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City.


In conjunction with Refused TV, the Bandits recorded a music video for the title track off ...And the Battle Begun. It is only their second music video since the making of a video for "Analog Boy" in 2001, and first independently produced video.

[edit] Current News And Tour

[citation needed]

During their fall west-coast tour the band encouraged fans to tape audio from their performances to be released on an upcoming official bootleg compilation to be released by the end of the year.

Rx Bandits recently released their live set from the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2007 exclusively on the iTunes Store. Live from Bonnaroo 2007 is currently only available for download from the U.S. iTunes Store.

The Bandits have also just (4/2/08) announced a Summer headline tour, during which they plan to unveil new material. Dates can be found on the band's Myspace.

[edit] Band members

[edit] Current members

[edit] Former Members

  • Steve Borth (Saxophone, backing vocals on The Resignation and ...And The Battle Begun)
  • Johnny Tsagakis (Bass)
  • James Salomone (Bass on Progress)
  • Rich Zahniser (Keyboards)
  • Franz J. Worth (Bass on Those Damn Bandits and Halfway Between Here and There)
  • Noah Gaffney (Saxophone on Those Damn Bandits and Halfway Between Here and There)
  • Rich Balling (Trombone on Those Damn Bandits, Halfway Between Here and There and Progress)

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Title Release Date Label
Those Damn Bandits 1997 Antedote Records; Drive-Thru Records
Halfway Between Here and There October 26, 1999 Drive-Thru Records
Progress July 17, 2001 Drive-Thru Records
The Resignation July 15, 2003 Drive-Thru Records
...And the Battle Begun October 10, 2006 MDB Records
Live from Bonnaroo 2007 (iTunes Release) December 5, 2007 MDB Records

[edit] Compilations

Title Release Date Label Songs Contributed
Ska Sucks May 1998 Liberation Records "Teen Idol"
Hey Brother...Can You Spare Some Ska January 19, 1999[2] Vegas Records "Teen Idol (Remix)"
You'll Never Eat Fast Food Again November 9, 1999[3] Drive-Thru "What If", "Wrong With Me", "All The Time (acoustic)"
Punk Goes Metal August 1, 2000[4] Fearless Records "Holy Wars"
Rock Against Bush April 20, 2004[5] Fat Wreck Chords "Overcome (the Recapitulation)"
Dead Bands Party: A Tribute to Oingo Boingo May 10, 2005[6] Indianola Records "Grey Matter"
Listen To Bob Dylan - A Tribute August 16, 2005[7] Drive-Thru "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll"

[edit] DVD

  • Rx Bandits Live: Vol. 1 (2004)

[edit] Side Projects

Over the years, several members found time for side projects.

  • Matt Embree is currently involved with his own independent label, MDB Records. He also performs in the hip hop group Seekret Socyetee, garage/punk group Coke vs. Bills with Joe Troy, and free form Jam band Apotheke with other members of the Rx Bandits. He is currently in the studio recording new material for his solo project entitled 'Love You Moon'[citation needed].
  • Additionally, Tsagakis has an electronic drum side project called Technology, also on MDB Records.
  • Steve Borth played with Skacore band from Southern California called Link 80 on Asian Man Records. Later started the reggae/rocksteady band Satori and has featured Embree on bass, members of The Exit, and Chris Murray.
  • Joseph Troy also played bass for the band Nurses at a few shows during their 2007 midwest/east coast tour.
  • Matt Embree is also involved in Peba Luna, a musical project with Lauren Coleman (formerly of Goldfish Don't bounce). Additional musicians also include Chris Tsagakis, Jon Grillo, and Jessica Lankford.

[edit] Sources

  1. ^ www.skratchmagazine.com - Rx Bandits interview
  2. ^ Amazon.com: Hey Brother, Can You Spare Some Ska: Music: Various Artists (Web). Amazon.com (November 18, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  3. ^ Amazon.com: You'll Never Eat Fast Food Again [EXPLICIT LYRICS: Music: Various Artists] (Web). Amazon.com (November 18, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  4. ^ Amazon.com: Punk Goes Metal: Music: Various Artists (Wed). Amazon.com (November 18, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  5. ^ Amazon.com: Rock Against Bush Vol. 1: Music: Various Artists (Web). Amazon.com (November 18, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-11-18.
  6. ^ Amazon.com: Punk Goes Metal: Music: Various Artists (Wed). Amazon.com (May 24, 2005). Retrieved on 2007-12-16.
  7. ^ Amazon.com: Listen To Bob Dylan - A Tribute: Music: Various Artists (Web). Amazon.com (November 18, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-11-18.

[edit] External links

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